I like our RB core just fine especially if Woody stays. Its a very young bunch that could get a lot better this coming season. So as long as Ballard doesn't announce that he's going back to the Giants, I think we will be just fine. The speed that Demps could have brought to our KR game was somewhat intriguing, but the TE trio of Gronk, Hern, and Ballard is what I'm really looking forward to this next season.

This does mean that the Pats control his NFL rights if I'm not mistaken, though, so at least he won't be going anywhere else. Kind of a bummer, I honestly expected that he'd make some kind of an impact on the team this year, but they'll just have to look elsewhere for someone to return kicks. Not going to lose sleep over the Pats missing out on the production of a guy who never even cost them a regular season roster spot, let alone a draft pick

As far as sticking with football and sprinting in the offseason, I'll believe it when I see it. Sounds like a great way to not play up to his potential in either sport, not sure why the Pats would sign on for that.

I heard the real reason Demps is returning to track is because Brady is greedy and Bob Kraft is a stupid owner....anyway, can't wait for "My Life As An NFL Mayfly-The Jeff Demps Story" that new spine tingling novel from the king of stolen suspense, Wrong Barges...

Maybe he can pull off a Deion Sanders and play two sports? Its too bad, I was hoping he would give us that Sproles/Bush type player. Looks like Woodhead becomes a bigger priority now, but I still wouldn't overpay him.

.... Yet nothing in the story actually says he isn't going to be there for TC to compete for a job. Just another unsubstantiated anonymous "source", which states that Demps is going to run track this off season. So you have to pardon me if I wait until we here something from the team before I dismiss Demps from RB mix.

BTW- its a little scary that after seeing how Florio butchered his analysis of the Brady contract, people here would read some speculation from PFT and immediately treat it as fact.

The guy is mainly going to be a kick returner. You know what kick returners work on over the offseason? Running fast.

He'll have to regain his 15 pounds of football weight in time for the season and work on his ball-security, catching, and change of direction skills that will probably be neglected over the summer, but other than that it shouldn't be a big deal. It's not like he's putting himself at much larger risk for injury by training for a 100 as opposed to training for running (ideally) 100 yards down the football field. I don't see why it can't work. If he were a WR (catching) or CB (backpedaling), then there might be problems, but his training over the summer should be 90% the same either way.